# Umbraco

## **Umbraco 8.18.15 Setup Guide on Windows Server 2025**

### **1. Download Required Files**

* **Source code (.ZIP):** [Umbraco 8.18.15 Source](https://github.com/umbraco/Umbraco-CMS/archive/refs/tags/release-8.18.15.zip)
* **NuGet package (.nupkg):** [UmbracoCms 8.18.15](https://www.nuget.org/api/v2/package/UmbracoCms/8.18.15)
* **NuGet CLI:** [nuget.exe](https://dist.nuget.org/win-x86-commandline/latest/nuget.exe)

***

### **2. Install IIS and Visual Studio 2019**

#### **Visual Studio 2019 workloads**

* ASP.NET and web development
* .NET desktop development

#### **Required components**

* .NET Framework 4.7.2 SDK
* .NET Framework 4.8 SDK
* IIS Express
* MSBuild

#### **IIS Server Roles**

* **Common HTTP Features**
* **Application Development**
  * .NET Extensibility 4.8
  * ASP.NET 4.8
  * ISAPI Extensions
  * ISAPI Filters

***

### **3. Restore & Build the Project**

1. Move `nuget.exe` to `C:\tools\`.
2. Extract the source code `.zip` to `C:\umbraco8`.
3. **Restore NuGet Packages**

```powershell
cd C:\umbraco8\src
C:\tools\nuget.exe restore
```

4. Open `C:\umbraco8\src\umbraco.sln` in Visual Studio 2019
5. Right-click the solution → **Restore NuGet Packages** (again from VS)
6. Build the solution
7. Verify IIS is installed and running:

```powershell
C:\Windows\System32\inetsrv\appcmd.exe list site
```

8. **Publish Umbraco**

* Right-click **Umbraco.Web.UI** → **Publish**
* More actions → Connection → Publish method: **File System**
* Target location: `C:\inetpub\umbraco8`
* Click **Publish**

***

### **4. Fix Missing Static Files**

The source code build does **not include some installer static assets** (CSS, JS, images). To fix:

1. Rename the NuGet package:

```
UmbracoCms.8.18.15.nupkg → UmbracoCms.8.18.15.zip
```

2. Extract the `.zip` file.
3. Copy **only the static files** from:

```
.\UmbracoFiles\*
```

to:

```
C:\inetpub\umbraco8
```

> **Important:** Do **NOT** overwrite `bin` or config files. Only copy folders like `Views`, `css`, `js`, `images`, etc. This ensures the installer runs without breaking dependencies.

***

### **5. Add Website in IIS**

1. Right-click **Sites** → **Add Website…**
   * Site name: `umbraco8`
   * Physical path: `C:\inetpub\umbraco8`
   * Port: `8888`
2. Grant IIS AppPool modify permissions:

```powershell
icacls C:\inetpub\umbraco8 /grant "IIS AppPool\umbraco8:(OI)(CI)M" /T
```

3. Ensure IIS\_IUSRS or Network Service has **read access** to the webroot.
4. Start the website and visit: <http://localhost:8888> → you should see the **Umbraco installation page**.

<figure><img src="/files/js5rEQrMgRUqKh9pm3zk" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

### **Common Issues / Debugging**

| Problem                                       | Solution                                                              |
| --------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **White page with "A server error occurred"** | Missing JS/CSS → copy full `UmbracoFiles` from NuGet. (Step 4)        |
| **Cannot access site externally**             | Configure Windows Firewall to allow inbound traffic on port 8888.     |
| **Database connection fails**                 | Ensure SQL Server is installed, running, and credentials are correct. |
| **Permission errors**                         | Ensure AppPool user has full control on `C:\inetpub\umbraco8`.        |


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